Pick Me Up! 06-Sep-2018

Growing up, I loved both my sisters Steph and Alexandra dearly - but we also fought like cat and dog! Especially Steph and I. I was a girly girl, loved playing dressing up and looking pretty. Three years younger, Steph was a tomboy who loved getting grubby! She didn’t care, but our mum Bernie, 60 did. ‘Come on, Bob,’ Mum would say dragging Steph along to the bathroom for yet another wash. We all called Steph ‘Bob’ because she was just like a little lad! She was fiery, too. She always had my back in the playground, chasing bullies away for saying mean things about my glasses. ‘That’s what sisters do,’ she’d tell me triumphantly. And as we’ve grown up, not that much has changed really. We’re still chalk and…

We’ve always loved The Lord of the Rings so when we were on holiday in New Zealand we had to visit ‘The Shire’ and then my son, Scott, transformed into a hobbit. Anne Draper, East Barnet Kailan couldn’t wait to see what it felt like to be a hamster – here he is doing his best impression in a water ball. Shelley Barrett, Sheffield My mum’s favourite thing is vegetables, so here she is posing with her number-one fave, broccoli. I was positively green with envy. Esther Chilton, Greenham This cheeky chap wouldn’t leave me or my daughter Esme and her friend Libby alone. They asked to take him home with us or stay at the zoo with him! Deanna Delaney, Eccles I’m a big fan of…

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I couldn’t help but feel protective of her, like she was my little sister Chatting away to another mum at the nursery gate, it already felt like we’d been mates for years. Her name was Katy and her son Leighton was the same age as my 4-year-old lad Jesse. Even though she was 13 years younger than me, we’d really clicked. Nattering about new recipes we’d tried and what we were cooking for the kids that night, we bonded over our mutual love of food. ‘Let’s all go out one night,’ Katy smiled. Soon we were heading out for pizza with the little ones, my older son Reece, 15, and Katy’s daughter Neveah, 7. It became a regular thing, treating the kids to tea out, or chatting as we pushed…

Having the odd fling kept our relationship exciting Sitting across the table, I fiddled anxiously with my cutlery. It was my first time going out with Ash, 29... but these weren’t first-date nerves. I already knew we’d get on. We’d been chatting online for weeks after meeting at a craft fair. We’d loads in common - and not just our similar names. We loved classic rock, board games, hiking, the same restaurants... I’d light up every time I saw a message from Ash pop up on my screen. There were fireworks - big time! But what I was about to tell him now might dampen that spark. ‘The thing is...’ I hesitated as Ash looked at me smiling. ‘I’m not into traditional relationships.’ I never had been. I mean, what…

Healthy and tasty… The new vegan and veggie balls from Heck are packed with flavour and are good for you, too! They come in two flavours – fresh and herby Super Greens and Indian-style Bollywood Bites (below). They’re on offer for 2 for £5 (usually £3 each) at Waitrose until 4 September. Bold and silver..? Embrace your greys with whitehothair.co.uk. Pop to their website and sign up for their newsletter for 10% off your order of gorgeous products for grey or white hair. Perfect to tone your dye job if it’s too yellow and needs more ash tones. The queen of puddings No Sunday roast is complete without some crisp and golden Yorkshires. Aunt Bessie’s packs of 12 Golden Yorkshires are ready to pop in the oven before serving with…